Weekly Marketing Rundown - August 28, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - December 12, 2025 Welcome to this week’s edition of Kavanah Media’s Weekly Marketing Rundown! We’re diving into the latest updates you need to know, including Meta's deal with news publishers, Reels dominance, India's attempt at surveillance, and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM AI Chatbot Gets Real-Time News Data Meta has signed deals with major news publishers, like CNN and USA Today, allowing its AI chatbot to offer up-to-the-minute information. This means that when people ask the Meta AI questions about current events, it can now provide very recent answers with links back to the original news articles. For Mission Teams With moves like this Meta continues to solidify it's market dominance. Every missions team considering digital engagement should not discount Meta's viability for evangelism. Additionally, as AI tools continue to change SEO, teams should take steps to ensure their own evangelism sites are optimized. https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/05/meta-signs-commercial-ai-data-agreements-with-publishers-to-offer-real-time-news-on-meta-ai/ Reels Ads Drive Greater Action Meta research shows that short video ads made specifically for Reels can make people over five times more likely to consider acting on an ad's message. Ads that share a clear, helpful story or main idea see the biggest increase in a viewer's desire to act. For Mission Teams This powerful digital engagement data means that short, compelling Reels videos should be a key strategy for reaching seekers. Since Meta's algorithms prioritize these formats, mission teams can see increased engagement in their efforts if they include this format. https://searchengineland.com/meta-native-reels-ads-can-lift-purchase-intent-5-3x-465615 India's Mandatory Security App: A Failed State Surveillance Attempt The Indian government, through its Department of Telecommunications (DoT), attempted to mandate the pre-installation of a state-owned cybersecurity app called Sanchar Saathi on all new smartphones. The initial, undeletable nature of the app, intended for fraud and theft prevention, quickly raised serious alarm bells about potential state surveillance and the erosion of citizens' privacy. For Mission Teams This situation provides a crucial security lesson: mandates that compromise user choice are often seen as threats to privacy, which affects digital engagement and trust. The government's quick reversal, driven by opposition from tech giants like Apple and public outcry, underscores the power of both industry resistance and public concern over surveillance. Mission teams operating in similar environments must recognize that government attempts to mandate software can create significant security implications and a loss of trust, demanding the use of secure communication strategies and heightened awareness of data privacy to protect seekers and team members. https://www.esecurityplanet.com/threats/india-mandates-undeletable-security-app-on-all-smartphones/ https://www.techrepublic.com/article/news-india-scraps-mandatory-app-preinstall/ Consumer App Accused of Covert Spying The Attorney General of Arizona has sued the shopping app Temu, alleging the platform secretly collects extremely sensitive data and behaves more like spyware. The complaint claims the app accesses users’ precise location, camera, microphone, and other app activity while using encrypted code to hide its actions. For Mission Teams This report is a serious warning about the security risks posed by high-risk consumer apps, especially those subject to foreign surveillance laws, which can severely compromise staff and seeker data. Mission teams should avoid installing high risk apps and platforms on their devices. Mission agencies, churches, and others should also consider their risk appetite and things such as Mobile Device Management (MDM) and EDR to help mitigate cybersecurity risks that do not align with their risk appetite. Ignoring this risk could compromise the security of mission efforts to find and disciple seekers. For any inquiries related to cybersecurity and risk mitigation, please feel free to Contact Us. https://www.esecurityplanet.com/threats/arizona-sues-temu-over-covert-data-harvesting-claims/ AI Answer Suggestions for Lead Forms Meta is testing a new feature where its AI automatically creates answer suggestions for short-answer questions on lead forms within advertisements. This feature aims to make filling out forms faster and easier for people by giving them clickable button options. For Mission Teams While this tool can boost digital engagement by increasing the number of completed forms, it risks lowering the quality of seeker leads by generating nearly identical answers. Lead-form ads are typically a high-intent strategy, but they do not always work in every context. Mission teams must test whether both lead ads and these generic suggestions are viable options in their respective fields. https://www.jonloomer.com/qvt/answer-suggestions-instant-forms/ Meta Ads 2025: AI Overhaul and 83 Key Changes Jon Loomer has documented 83 changes that Meta has implemented in advertising this year. The most significant change is their shift toward full automation, with the biggest focus on AI-driven tools that find audiences and create content automatically. For Mission Teams This comprehensive list of 83 changes is essential reading for mission teams to strategically audit and adapt their entire digital approach, especially given that the largest push is full AI control. Check out the full list below: https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-advertising-changes-2025/ Russia Bans Western Communication Apps Russia has banned Western communication services, specifically Snapchat and Apple's FaceTime, claiming the platforms are being used to organize crimes and terrorist acts. This move is part of a broader, ongoing effort by the Russian government to cut off access to foreign social media and messaging platforms since the start of the war in Ukraine. For Mission Teams The ban underscores the high risk of using popular Western communication tools for finding seekers. Teams must understand that such government actions can significantly hinder digital evangelism efforts and be prepared to adjust their strategies. https://archive.is/BOjJA Instagram Carousels Drive Highest Engagement Instagram carousel posts, which allow up to 20 swipeable images or videos, consistently achieve the highest engagement rates on the platform by encouraging users to pause, swipe, and interact longer. They are an excellent format for visual storytelling, presenting multi-step guides, or turning long content like sermons into simple, bite-sized, and shareable takeaways. For Mission Teams This format is a powerful strategy for increasing digital engagement and the visibility of evangelistic content, as the algorithm favors posts that drive user interaction and often shows carousels twice. Mission teams could leverage carousels to break down complex topics and evangelize. https://blog.hootsuite.com/instagram-carousel/ Free Icons for Consistent Branding Are you looking for free, high-quality social media icons to enhance the professional appearance of your evangelism website, app, or other platforms? Explore Buffer's curated list of the best free resources below: https://buffer.com/resources/free-social-media-icons/ Tourist Social Media Disclosure at US Border The US Customs and Border Protection has proposed a new rule that would require nearly all international visitors, including those from visa-exempt countries, to disclose up to five years of their social media history. This major security proposal, along with other data requirements like past phone numbers and email addresses, is intended to enhance the vetting process for national security purposes. For Mission Teams Social media and device searches are increasingly becoming standard practice for customs agencies in many countries. Missionaries traveling from their home countries should be prepared for the possibility of being asked to allow authorities to search their devices and social media profiles. In some contexts, a lack of social media presence can raise suspicions just as much as openly posting religious content. Depending on the risk appetite of mission teams, churches, or agencies, it may be necessary to scrub social media accounts, privatize profiles, delete certain apps, and take other precautions. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/travel/social-media-tourists-visa-border-patrol.html?unlocked_article_code=1.7k8.Jytd.OxeH-dyCBD-p&smid=nytcore-ios-share For any inquiries related to cybersecurity and risk mitigation, please feel free to Contact Us. Foundations of Digital Engagement Strategy Course May 13-16, 2026 (Pre-EMDC Training) Chiang Mai, Thailand This course is for you. Digital permeates virtually every aspect of people's lives and it should be present in every stage of your mission and ministry strategy. Join Kavanah Media staff during the Pre-EMDC training week for a time of practical training in digital engagement. This course is designed for you to examine your end to end strategy and find ways that digital components can be added or improved whether you are just ready to begin or an experienced practitioner. Follow the link or contact us for more details. https://emdcon.org/ Stay Equipped for Digital Engagement  Looking for ways to use digital tools to grow evangelism and disciple-making? Check out our other resources: Kavanah Media Blog – Learn from our experiences serving hundreds of mission teams worldwide. We share practical lessons, real stories, and best practices to help your team avoid mistakes and grow in digital outreach. Subscribe here. YouVersion Reading Plan– Jon Ralls, CEO of Kavanah Media, just launched a powerful 4-day devotional on YouVersion called "Love Where You Are." Subscribe here Digital Strategies got you stumped? Reach out anytime—we’re ready to help. Contact Us Thanks for reading this edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown! For more up-to-date insights in digital marketing, make sure to follow us on Instagram @kavanah_media and stay connected through all our social media channels via the link below. https://linktr.ee/kavanah_media Authors: Cody A. and Cherry Messimer Article Published: December 12, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - August 29, 2025 Welcome to this week’s edition of Kavanah Media’s Weekly Marketing Rundown! In this issue, we explore the challenges surrounding Meta's ad budget underspending, the automatic activation of Advantage + Audience parameters, updates to Google Ads, and much more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Meta Underspending Ad Budgets? Recently, Kavanah Media team members have observed that several ad campaigns using Original Audiences are frequently underspending their daily budgets. While this typically balances out over the duration of the campaigns, teams have reported lower-than-average message rates as a result. Consequently, this has led to periods of inactivity for digital responders. Kavanah Media's initial hypothesis suggests that this issue may stem from not granting Meta's algorithms sufficient flexibility, particularly concerning Advantage+ Audience, campaign budgeting, and other related factors. For Mission Teams: Teams facing this issue are encouraged to try combining audiences, enabling Advanced Audience features, and minimizing restrictions on the algorithm to see if the issue improves. If you are encountering this problem, we would appreciate your feedback. Meta Expands Advantage+ Dynamic Media in API Meta is updating its Marketing API to bring it in line with Ads Manager. Starting September 1, 2025, Meta will automatically enable Dynamic Media for Advantage+ catalog ads. This means formats like Single Image, Carousel, and Collection will now default to Dynamic Media, allowing more flexibility and personalization. The rollout will finish by October 20, though advertisers can still opt out if they want manual control. For Mission Teams: Teams utilizing third party tools for marketing on Meta's platforms should experiment with these new tools in their context to see how they affect engagement. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-updates-marketing-api-advantage-plus-expansion/758685/ Meta Restricting Ads Related to English Classes Many advertisers have reportedly faced challenges with Meta flagging and restricting ads related to English classes and other educational categories. Although Meta has not addressed this issue, some marketers suspect it may be linked to the company's compliance with local laws governing educational entities or other related policies. For Mission Teams: Mission teams promoting educational events should ensure their advertisements comply with Meta's policies and best practices. This includes considerations such as marketing to minors and avoiding ascribing personal attributes in their advertising (see Meta's policy on that here). Furthermore, it is advisable to limit the amount of text and content in ad creatives, as the Kavnaah Media team has observed that excessive text can lead to ad restrictions. https://www.reddit.com/r/FacebookAds/comments/xhgy80/pages_for_schools_being_restricted_from/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Advantage + Audience Settings Auto Enabled The Kavanah Media team has reported a recent change to Meta's Ad Manager UI concerning Advantage + Audiences. Previously, missions teams could easily disable the Advantage + audience by toggling the 'Original audience' button at the bottom of the audience selection box. However, the new update requires users to select "Further Limit the Reach of Your Ads" and then deselect the "Use as a suggestion" options for age, gender, and location. Additionally, Kavanah Media team members noticed that Advantage + Audience targeting has been re-enabled on ads where it was previously disabled. For Mission Teams: For teams currently using Adv.+ audience parameters, no changes are required. However, teams employing Original Audience targeting to specify gender, age, or geographic location should verify that these changes have not been automatically applied to their existing ads. Necessary adjustments should be made for future advertisements. If you are experiencing this issue or require assistance with adjusting your ad targeting, please do not hesitate to contact us. Google Ads to Remove Language Targeting in Search Campaigns By the end of 2025, Google Ads will phase out manual language targeting in search campaigns. Instead, Google AI will automatically detect and match user languages, aiming to simplify campaign setup and increase precision. This update won’t impact non-search campaigns. For Mission Teams: For mission teams, this means less direct control over which languages your ads target. While automation could broaden reach, it may also bring unintended audiences. Teams should closely track performance metrics and be ready to refine ad copy or campaign structure to keep messaging aligned with the right audience. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-week-34-adriaan-dekker-ftsce/ Meta Adjusts Ad Set Spending Limits Meta has changed how ad set spending limits function under Advantage+ Campaign Budget (formerly Campaign Budget Optimization). Instead of enforcing hard caps on spending, the limits now act as average targets. This means spending may fluctuate above or below the set amount, with Meta aiming to balance it over time. For Mission Teams: This update reduces control over strict budget allocation. To prevent overspending on a particular ad, teams should utilize Lifetime budget. As usual, teams should experiment with this in their context. https://www.jonloomer.com/qvt/ad-set-spending-limits-change/ Google Ads Adds Asset Studio and Prepares AI Mode Ads Google Ads is rolling out Asset Studio in beta, a built-in creative hub that allows users to generate images, videos, and voiceovers using AI. It also includes bulk editing, video trimming, and flags AI-generated content with a “SynthID.” Asset Studio is especially useful for Performance Max campaigns, helping teams produce high-quality assets faster and more efficiently. At the same time, Google is preparing a broad rollout of AI Mode ads in its conversational AI search interface before Q4. Unlike traditional keyword-based ads, these placements will appear based on the full conversation context. Performance Max and AI Max for search campaigns will automatically feed into these new placements, making careful monitoring of campaign performance essential. For Mission Teams: Asset Studio can save teams time and resources when creating visuals and videos. With AI Mode ads, expect ads to appear in new, context-driven placements. Monitor performance closely and keep data and feeds well-maintained. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-week-34-adriaan-dekker-ftsce/ Stay Equipped for Digital Engagement At Kavanah Media, we’re committed to helping mission teams use digital tools to make God known around the world. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, practical insights, or in-depth strategy, we’ve got resources to help: Kavanah Media Blog – Learn from our experiences serving hundreds of mission teams worldwide. We share practical lessons, real stories, and best practices to help your team avoid mistakes and grow in digital outreach. Subscribe here. YouVersion Reading Plan– Jon Ralls, CEO of Kavanah Media, just launched a powerful 8-day devotional on YouVersion called "Living in Tension." Subscribe here Digital Strategies got you stumped? Reach out anytime—we’re ready to help. Contact Us Thanks for reading this edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown! For more up-to-date insights in digital marketing, make sure to follow us on Instagram @kavanah_media and stay connected through all our social media channels via the link below. https://linktr.ee/kavanah_media Authors: Cody A. and Cherry Messimer Article Published: August 29, 2025